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Scope and Contents of the Materials

The images contained in this collection date from 1976 to 2005 with the bulk of the images from 1988 to 2005. The collection was created to document the activities of the Dining Services Department. They show images of the staff, their working lives, the events they produce, and the students who participate in the events.

Biographical Note

President Marquis first asked for money for a freshman girl’s dormitory and cafeteria in 1924. Repeated requests for legislative funding were not met. Then in the 1930s the formation Public Works Administration provided a way to finance and construct a dormitory on campus. The first dormitory was Marquis Hall, which opened in 1936. The dorm was located on Avenue B, between Sycamore and Mulberry Streets. The dorm was equipped with a kitchen, grill, main dining room and a second dining room for the use of the college. Sadie Kate Bass was the first dietician at Marquis Hall. When opened, room and board was $24.00 per calendar month (not including the evening meal on Sunday). Board only cost $17.00 a month or meal tickets could be bought for $4.50 per $5.00 book.

Dining Services would grow with the campus and the expansion of the dormitories, conference, and entertainment facilities. UNT Dining Services is a self-supported food service department. In addition to the five dining halls the department supplies food for 16 retail locations, one full-service restaurant and a full-service catering department.

The mission of Dining Services is to provide quality nutritious meals, superior service, excellent value and a friendly, customer-oriented staff. The Dining Services staff has sought to provide good food as well as a fun atmosphere for their dinners. Theme dinners and celebrations of holidays have long been a part of the dormitory cafeteria experience.

The Food Advisory Board is composed of a group of students who represent their residence hall to Dining Services. The group provides feedback on the food, service and quality to help improve the dining experience for all students. They also conduct taste tests to help select new brands, products, and foods for future menus. Dining Services responded to requests for an expanded selection of vegetarian meals by dedicating one dorm cafeteria, Maple Hall, to a vegan menu in 2011.

[The information for this entry comes from "The Story of North Texas" by James Rogers and Dining Services publications.]

Photographs of individual Dining Services staff members make up the contents of this folder. Some of the images were taken in Kerr Hall.

Prints: 9

Folder 44: Staff (18), 1999

Photographs of individual Dining Services staff members that were taken in 1999. There is also one proof sheet.

Print: 32

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 45: Staff (19), undated

Prints of individuals and groups of Dining Services staff make up the bulk of the contents of this folder.

Prints: 13

Folder 46: Staff (20), 2002

This is a collection of images of Dining Services staff preparing meals, decorating for theme meals and interacting with students.

Prints: 20

Folder 47: Staff (21), 2002

Images of the Dining Services staff cooking and preparing the cafeterias for the students. There are also two images of a vase of roses.

Prints: 19

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 48: Staff (22), 2002

Images of the Dining Services staff preparting food and students enjoying it in the cafeterias.

Prints: 20

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 49: Staff (23), 2002

This folder contains images of the Dining Services staff at work and views of Maple Hall cafeteria.

Print: 19

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 50: Staff (24), 2002

Images that show the Dining Services staff cooking and decorating the cafeteria in Maple Hall.

Prints: 18

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 51: Staff (25), 2002

Images of staff preparing Bruce Hall cafeteria for a theme dinner.

Prints: 15

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 52: Staff and Dormitory Cafeterias, circa 1988

Color and black and white prints of Dining Services staff at work in the dormitories. There is one black and white print of a mural.

Prints: 5

Folder 53: Staff and Events, undated

Images of staff, students, decorations and food for various events in the dormitory cafeterias. Fiesta and the 1950s are two of the celebrations identified in this folder.

Prints: 17

Folder 54: Staff: Food History and Celebrations, undated

This folder contains images of Dining Services staff at work, in group photos, and during celebrations and theme dinners in the dorms. Chancellor Alfred Hurley is in one photograph.

Prints: 51

Folder 55: Staff and Students, 2002

Prints of students holding a cookbook by the Mansion on Turtle Creek and images of Dining Services employees at work make up the contents of this folder.

Prints: 14

Folder 56: Staff: Workshop "Pep Rally", 1998

This folder contains images of Dining Services staff posed in groups behind a "Soaring to Excellence" banner. There are also images of the staff working and of a theme dinner for a pep rally.

Prints: 20

Folder 57: St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Carnival, 1989

Images from three theme dinners are contained in this folder.

Prints: 19

Folder 58: Students, undated

This folder contains images of students in UNT dormitory cafeterias.

Prints: 3

Folder 59: Students, 1987

Set of photographs of individual students. The images are similar to those taken of the members of the Food Advisory Board.

Prints: 13

Folder 60: Students, 2002 (1)

This folder contains images of students in the Maple Hall cafeteria and Dining Services staff.

Prints: 8

Folder 61: Students, 2002 (2)

Students are seen eating and socializing in dorm cafeterias.

Prints: 8

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 62: Students in Maple Hall, 2002

Images of students in Maple Hall cafeteria and the Dining Services staff that work in that dorm.

Prints: 18

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 63: Superbowl and Cheryl's Party, circa 1996

This folder contains images of the decorations and food served at a Superbowl Party. Also included are images of a woman with a vase and a sign announcing Betsy McGuire's birthday.

Prints: 9

Folder 64: Texas Independence Day, 1992

Food (salads and cakes) are used as decorations for the celebration of Texas Independence Day.

Prints: 11

Folder 65: Thanksgiving, 1988

These prints show the decorations that were used for the celebration of Thanksgiving in the UNT dormitories.

Prints: 4

Folder 66: Theme Dinners (1), undated

This folder contains images from a variety of theme dinners held in the UNT dormitories. Images from the Race is On and All That Jazz are represented in this folder.

Prints: 21

Proof Sheet: 1

Folder 67: Theme Dinners, undated

This folder contains images of theme dinners held in UNT dormitory cafeterias. The selection of images include: Christmas, All That Jazz, Fiesta, Valentine's Dayand Homecoming. Close ups of the food are also part of the collection.

Prints: 30

Folder 68: Theme Dinners, undated

Images of theme dinners held in the UNT dormitory cafeterias includes images of a celebration of the 1950s as well as photos of the staff, students in the cafeterias, and shots of the food that was served.

Folder 69: Valentine's Day, 1989

This foler contains prints of Valentine' s Day cookie decorating, the cafeterial decorations, and the students.

Prints: 11

Folder 70: Valentines Day, 1989 (2)

These prints show the decorations and foods served on Valentine's Day. Maple Hall and West Hall are respresented in this set of images.

Prints: 13

Folder 71: Valentines Day, 1990

This set of images shows a cooking demonstration, Valentine's Day decorations, and the service line in a dorm.

Prints: 9

Folder 72: Valentine's Day Cookies, 1990 (2)

Students decorate cookies to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Prints: 10

Folder 73: Valentine's Day, 1990 (3)

Images of Valentine's Day cookies, cakes, and decorations along with images of individual students that are similar to those taken of Food Advisory Board members.

Prints: 9

Folder 74: Valentine's Day, 2009

This folder contains one review card and images of the decorations and food service line for the Valentine's Day dinner.

Prints: 2

Sheet: 1

Folder 75: Vegetarian, undated

This folder has images of vegetarian options that have been served by Dining Services.

Prints: 12

Folder 76: Viva Italia Dinner, 1989

An image of the decorations and food served for the Italian themed dinner in the spring of 1989.

Print: 1

Folder 77: Wedding in Dallas, 1997

Two prints that document a wedding. One print shows people in a horse drawn carriage.

Folder 78: West Hall, undated

This folder holds an image of West Hall cafeteria.

Print: 1

Folder 79: West Hall: Meet the Football Team Lunch, undated

Images that document a lunch that was held in West Hall so the students could meet the football team.

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